By Chizoba Okeke
The Anambra State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ANSACA) has disclosed that the state currently records a 2.4 per cent HIV prevalence rate, exceeding the national average of 2.1 per cent, a development that places Anambra fifth among states in Nigeria and first in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
The Executive Director said this during a familiarization visit by the House Committee on Health of the Anambra State House of Assembly to the newly appointed Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, and members of his management team on Wednesday 17th June, 2026.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Director, Dr. Okeke, described the prevalence rate as a serious public health concern requiring intensified collaboration among stakeholders.
According to him, “Anambra currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 2.4 per cent, which is higher than the national average of 2.1 per cent. This places the state fifth in the country and the highest in the Southeast. While significant progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to reverse this trend.”
“We have expanded our moonlight outreach programmes and strengthened our ward-based volunteer network to ensure that HIV prevention messages and services reach every community. Our strategy is to decentralize awareness campaigns and encourage early testing and treatment,” he stated.
“Our target is to attain zero new HIV infections by 2028. However, inadequate budgetary provisions and heavy dependence on external funding remain major obstacles. Sustained government support will be critical to achieving this goal,” Dr. Okeke added.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Health and member representing Aguata II Constituency, Honourable Tony Muobike, commended the agency’s renewed vision and strategic interventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“The Committee is impressed with the direction ANSACA is taking under its new leadership. We recognize the challenges confronting the agency, particularly in the area of funding, and we are committed to working closely with ANSACA to address these issues and improve the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes across the state,” Muobike said.
The visit underscored the growing partnership between the legislature and ANSACA as both institutions seek to strengthen HIV prevention, treatment, and coordination efforts across ministries and communities in Anambra State.
